Max Rafferty

Max Rafferty
22nd California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 7, 1963 – January 4, 1971
GovernorPat Brown
Ronald Reagan
Preceded byRoy E. Simpson
Succeeded byWilson Riles
Personal details
Born
Maxwell Lewis Rafferty Jr.

(1917-05-07)May 7, 1917
New Orleans, Louisiana
DiedJune 13, 1982(1982-06-13) (aged 65)
Pike County, Alabama
Political partyRepublican
SpouseFrances Longman Rafferty (1944–1982; his death)
RelationsFrances Rafferty (sister)
Children3
ProfessionAuthor and educator

Maxwell Lewis Rafferty Jr. (May 7, 1917 – June 13, 1982) was an American writer, educator, and politician. The author of several best-selling books about education, Rafferty served two terms as California State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1963 to 1971 under Governors Pat Brown and later eventual future US President Ronald Reagan and ran unsuccessfully in 1968 for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee, losing to Democratic former State Controller Alan Cranston. As of 2024, Rafferty is the very last Republican to have officially serve as California State Superintendent of Public Instruction to date.